Corset and other foundation garment



April 19, 1932. R. M. BlNsw'ANGER CORSET AND OTHERuFOUNDATI-ON GARMENT Filed 00T., 4, 1929 llll |l|ll Il llllvl I N VEN TOR,

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Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD M. BINSWANGER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO OLM- STEAD CORPORATION OF SPRINGFIELD, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS CORSET AND OTHER FOUNDATION Application filed October 4, 1929. Serial No. 397,412.

This invention relates to improvements in corsets and other foundation garments.

An object of the invention is to provide a band or belt for exerting an upward lifting effect on the abdominal organs, and at the same time produce an inward or backward pressure.

A further object is to combine the belt or band construction with a corset or other foun-v dation garment, for the purpose of producing an upward pressure on the abdomen and a compression effect on the diaphragm.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting and regulating the pressure of the band or belt feature.

A further object is to provide means for eecting a pressure only on the diaphragm, without utilizing the abdominal pressure structure.

A further object is to so construct and arrange the abdominal, or belt portion, that it will come directly against the wearer by having the tension straps pass from the outer surface to the inner surface of the garment.

A further obj ect is to attach the lower and inner ends of the elastic tension portions of the band, or belt, to the lower end of a member which may, or may not, be re-inforced by the employment of a stiffening agent, which member is designed to be permanently attached at its lower end to the garment or belt body, or to leave the lower end of the member free from the garment or belt body.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the pressure of the belt straps against the body of the wearer.

Further objects and nature of my invention will appear in the body of the specification and will be particularly pointed out in the claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ diagonally arranged tension straps for exerting an inwardly and uplifting pres- 5 sure on the abdomen, and that straps have been used to suppress the diaphragm, but I am certain that it is new to employ a tension strap associated with an abdominal band, belt, or foundation garment, one end of which f is attached to the outer surface of the garment or belt, which then extends through an opening and then forwardly, to the inner surface of the band or belt, where it is attached for exerting a pressure directly in contact with the wearer.

I am aware that it is old to employ. auxiliary tension straps with lacings for adjusting the same, but I am not aware that it is old to employ such straps, as a diaphragm reducing feature, above referred to, as eX- tending from the outer surface of the belt or garment to the inner surface of the same.

Referring to the drawings:

Figl is a view in which the tension straps,

or bands, are provided with lacings and f' auxiliary tension straps.

Fig. 2 is an inside view of Fig. 1, showing in detail two pairs of inclinedtension, or pressure, straps or bands, attached to a centrally located member.

Fig. 3 is a view of a modification ofa tension strap.

Referring tothe constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which the brassire part is omitted and only the lower portion of a corset garment is employed, which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 17', in this construction is shown two tension straps which are arranged in oppositely extending or inclined directions, and in partially or wholly overlapping relation to each other, the upper ones are designatedat 18 and the lower ones at 19. Their opposite out-er ends are connected to the auxiliary portio-ns 25 and 26, which have eyelets 25 and 26 in their edges. as shown, by means of the strips of fabric 20 and 21 in each of which is formed the eyelets 22 to receive the lacing strings 23, which lacings pass through vertical openings 24, and also pass through eyelets in the outer part of the garment at 22", (see Figs. 1 and 2). These strings are connected to short or auxiliary tension straps 25 and 26 by means of the eyelets 25 and 26". These straps may be elastic or nonelastic material, and are secured to the outside of the garment, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction provides convenient means on the outer surface for accurately adjusting the tension of the bands or straps and the inward and upward lifting effect on Cil the abdominal. wall. The inner ends of these inclined tension straps are secured to the de pending member 26, the lower end of which hangs loose, or may be attached to the garment 17. The member 26 will, therefore, exert a pressure directly against the person for producing the inward and upward lifting effect. An important feature of this construction is the convenience in making the adjustment on the outer side of the garment, as indicated in Fig. 3, by the lacing strings, which are tied together, as shown at 28.

I do not limit myself to the construction or placement of these tension bands with relation to each other where it appears they are separate pieces on each side of the garment or belt and their inner ends meeting. rlhese bands would also function in the same way, if they were formed from one piece and extending from one side of the garment to the other, in the same plane and being secured at the center of the garment or left free.

The bands, as shown in Fig. 3, can be made from a single piece of material by removing a section of the material extending from one edge of the same and into the same to such a distance that when these cut edges are laid adjacent to each other and stitched together, any angle may be formed, governed by the size of the section removed.

The function of the eyelets 22', which are located on the outer surface of the garment or belt, as shown in Fig. 3, is to prevent the portion or section 17 which covers the openings 24; from bulging out or assuming a puckered condition, when the lacings are drawn in and tied. These lacings do not come into Contact with the person of the wearer, since they are always covered with the two portions 17 and 17". The process of running the lacing strings 23 provides a means of always retaining the outer and inner portions of the garment in aL smooth and unwrinkled condition.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use or employment of a center piece, as shown at 26', in which the same is secured in any way to the garment or belt member, and further, I do not limit myself to the placement of any of the tension straps in any definite or iXed plane, as it is apparent in Figs. 1 and 2, where it is sho-wn that additional eyelets are provided, whereby tension straps may be re-positioned in either an upward or downward direction, by utilizing the additional eyelets in the direction in which it is desired to shift the belt.

Vhat I claim is:

1. An article of wearing apparel comprising a girdle member, elastic members secured at their outer vertical edges to the outer surface of said girdle member', two pairs of oppositely inclined and overlapping members that are vertically spaced from each other and disposed across the inner surface of said girdle member with their ends extended into vertical openings formed in said girdle member, and adjustable connecting means between the outer surface of said girdle member and the inner vertical edges of said elastic members and between the inner vertical edges of said elastic members and the outer ends of said overlapping members.

2. An article of wearing apparel compris-V ing a girdle member, two pairs of oppositely inclined and overlapping tension members, disposed across the inner surface of said girdle member and secured to the outer surface of said girdle member by means of laces passed through vertical openings in said girdle member, a member secured to the inner surface of said tension members for exerting a certain desired pressure on the diaphragm and abdomen respectively of the wearer, and auxiliary tension means secured to the outer surface of said girdle member and attached to said tension members for varying the degree of tension in said tension members.

RICHARD M. BINSWANGER. 

